Vintage Space Age furniture captured post–World War II optimism with swooping shapes, bowed lines and experimentation with new materials including plastic and fiberglass.
From the launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957 to the landing of Apollo 11 astronauts on the moon in 1969, the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States propelled advancements in technology that transformed culture. Space Age design encompassed fashion, architecture, cars, furniture and objects for the home, bringing wonder and hope for the future into everyday life.
Coinciding with Pop art, Space Age style featured bold colors and forms. Eero Aarnio’s Ball chair, which debuted in 1966, used molded fiberglass for a capsule-like space while Verner Panton’s 1959 Panton chair was a single piece of molded plastic for a gravity-defying S shape. Red versions of Olivier Mourgue’s 1964 Djinn chair were futuristic enough to appear on the space station in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Today, Joe Colombo is revered as a master of modern Italian design thanks to the provocative modular furniture pieces he created, such as the Tube chair and the Elda armchair, both of which embody the future-forward spirit of the Space Age.
The Space Age spirit extended to home building too. The futuristic Case Study Houses, which were designed by the likes of Pierre Koenig, Charles and Ray Eames, Richard Neutra and Whitney R. Smith, are considered a high point of modernism and the Southern California lifestyle.
Sometimes the nods to space exploration were more literal, like moon and star motifs or the 1965 Eclisse lamp by Vico Magistretti that saw the mid-century Italian designer integrating a movable inner shade to “eclipse” the light source. Alongside the pioneering moon missions, JVC manufactured the Videosphere portable television reminiscent of the Apollo 11 space helmets.
Although the style faded in the 1970s — with the 1975 joining of the Apollo and Soyuz spacecrafts signaling a new era of cooperation and the global oil crisis impacting the availability of plastics — the era’s innovations influenced designers into the 21st century such as Zaha Hadid and Djivan Schapira.
Find a collection of vintage Space Age seating, tables, lighting and other furniture on 1stDibs.
"Hommage a Samarkand" by Hans J. Schöbel for Södahl, Denmark 1960s
Located in ECHT, NL
Hand printed wall tapestry by Hans Jürgen Schöbel for Södahl AS Denmark. Made from 40% polyester and 60% jute. The piece is called "Hommage a Samarkand", a city in Uzbekistan. The...
Jute, Polyester
Space age hand knotted wall hanging, Germany 1970
By Desso
Located in ECHT, NL
Magnificent space age wall tapestry. Handcrafted in the 1970s. It has an abstract decor. The patterns have different heights. The tapestry is in very good condition. It looks almost...
Wool
Hand printed wall tapestry by Jürgen Schöbel for Södahl, Denmark 1960s
Located in ECHT, NL
Hand printed mid century wall tapestry. Designed by Jürgen Schöbel and manufactured by Södahl Denmark in the 1960s. The tapestry is made of 60% jute and 40% polyester. The colors ar...
Jute, Polyester
1970s Ewald Kröner art wall rug
By Ewald Kröner
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
- rare artistic wall rag by Ewald Kröner 1970s Germany - wool vintage rug in excellent condition - rising sun - signed Kröner
Wool
Tapestry Genaro Antônio Dantas de Carvalho, Brazilian Artist, 1960
By Genaro de Carvalho
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Tapestry Genaro Antônio Dantas de Carvalho Brazilian artist 1960 Upholsterers, painter, designer. Genaro Antonio Dantas de Carvalho began his painting studies with his father. In 1944, he went to Rio de Janeiro and studied drawing with Henrique Cavalleiro at the Brazilian Society of Fine Arts. He is considered one of the main activists for the renewal of art in Bahia, along with Carlos Bastos, Caribé and Mario Cravo...
Tapestry
Tapestry, Brazilian Artist, 1980 Sign Renot
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Tapestry Design Renot Brazilian artist 1980 The tapestry is restored. Sign: Renot 1980 Bahia Brazil original Atelier Studio Renot Salvador- ...
Tapestry
Space age handcrafted wall hanging, Netherlands 1970s
By Wassily Kandinsky, Verner Panton
Located in ECHT, NL
Handcrafted wall hanging. Geometrical patterns on an off-white background. Skillfully made mid century artwork. The top and bottom have loops for a rod. Considering the age, this pi...
Fabric, Thread
"Peacock" wall tapestry by Hans J Schöbel for Södahl, Denmark 1960s
Located in ECHT, NL
Hand painted wall tapestry by Hans Jürgen Schöbel for Södahl Denmark. Made from jute and polyester. The design depicts a peacock with its tail feathered out. the tapestry is still ...
Jute, Polyester
Wall Tapestry by Aimé Kakon, Space Age Design, Wool, France, 1976
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Exceptional tapestry designed by Aimé Kakon in 1976 Architect, sculptor, ceramicist, visual artist, Aimé Kakon is an artist in his own right. His work is timeless, his graphics as w...
Wool
Stunning Space ace 3D Hand made Wall Tapestry 1970s Germany
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stunning Hand made Wall Tapestry . Abstract design Shag rug circa 1970s Germany . Abstract design in rust brown and white with three dimensional sculpted effect Unmarked.
Wool
Abstract handcrafted wall hanging, Netherlands 1972
By Karel Appel, Wassily Kandinsky
Located in ECHT, NL
This handcrafted wall hanging is made from fabric. It depicts two abstract persons in an abstract surrounding. Crafty made decorative piece with subtle colors and shapes. Made in 197...
Fabric
$990Sale Price|38% Off
H 30 in W 47 in D 1 in
'A White Stream' Wool Tapestry or Rug by H. Sulkowska for Cepelia c 1960, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful wool tapestry, or small rug, named 'Bialy Potok' which translates to 'A White Stream', designed by artist H. Sulkowska for the Polish company 'ZWW' (Zakopiańskie Warsztat...
Wool
$1,145
H 26.38 in W 39.38 in D 0.79 in
Abstract Vibrant Wall Tapestry, Hand Knotted Wool, 1960s, Excellent
Located in London, GB
Colorful hand knotted wool hanging is probably a translation of the work of an artist. This was a time when modern artists work began to work with weavers...
Wool
$298Sale Price|50% Off
H 24.41 in W 32.29 in D 1.97 in
Large Decorative Vintage 1960s Wall Tapestry Art Pictured Bratislava Scenery, Cz
Located in Zohor, SK
Large decorative fine handmade vintage artwork 20th century 1960's wall tapestry showing scenery of Bratislava city. with Danube river. Set in an impre...
Textile, Glass, Wood
$1,475
H 21 in W 31 in D 1 in
Abstract 1960s Textile Fiber Art Panel Titled "Summer is Gone" by Helen Richards
Located in Peabody, MA
Abstract fiber art panel titled “Summer is Gone” by the painter and textile artist Helen Richards of Garden Grove, CA, circa 1960s.
Natural Fiber, Wood
1970s Brutalist Handwoven Wool Fiber Art Wall Hanging
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handmade wool wall hanging from the 1970s, working in the Brutalist fiber art tradition associated with French artists Daniel Dartois and Anne-Marie Monginoux. The composition layers...
Wool, Thread, Yarn, Natural Fiber
Jean Lurcat Mid-Century Aubusson Tapestry
By Jean Lurçat
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century tapestry designed by Jean Lurcat and woven at Atelier Suzanne Goubely-Gatien in Aubusson, France. Hand woven in wool, it dates to the 1950s and entitled "Bahia La Rouge...
Wool, Tapestry
$238Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.05 in W 7.8 in D 0.1 in
Mid-Century Modern Hand-Embroidered Needlepoint Wall Hanging, 1975
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A beautifully crafted vintage embroidered tapestry from the 1970s, showcasing exceptional needlepoint work in a harmonious palette of muted, blue, green, and details in black and whi...
Wool, Cotton, Linen
$825
H 51.19 in W 39.38 in D 0.2 in
Vintage French Wall Tapestry, Wine Harvest Scene by JP Paris Gobelin, 1960s
Located in COLMAR, FR
This vintage French wall tapestry beautifully merges Renaissance-inspired imagery with the refined graphic style of the 1960s. Printed on thick woven cotton, it portrays a lively win...
Metal
Textured macrame wall hanging, wool, Spain, Circa 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Exquisite macramé wall tapestry, handcrafted in Spain during the 1970s, featuring a large format. This unique piece combines diverse textures and materials, with each rope and thread...
Wool
Mid Century Wall Tapestry, Denmark, 1960s
By Ege Rya
Located in Praha, CZ
- Rare - Nice condition.
Wool
Vintage Tapestry by Hans Krondahl 1'10" x 2'1"
Located in New York, NY
Soft Neutral Vintage Artistic Hans Krondahl Flower Tapestry by Hans Krondahl, country of origin: America, Circa date: Vintage
Wool, Linen
Rene Perrot Mid-Century Aubusson Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
Mid-century tapestry designed by Rene Perrot (1912-1979) and woven at Atelier Riviere des Borderies in Aubusson, France. Handwoven in wool, it dates to 194...
Wool, Tapestry
Space Age Wall Tapestry Italian Mid-Century Fabric Art 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age wall tapestry Italy 1970s wood, fabric H 120 cm - 55 × 2 cm Conditions: very good, consistent with age and use.
Fabric, Wood
Leather Tapestry Composition, 1970s
Located in Lisboa, PT
Leather mosaic tapestry wall hanging composition representing a landscape. Signed lower right, countersigned and titled on the back Fabrice. France, 1970s.
Leather
Sold
H 78.75 in W 43.31 in D 3.94 in
Artful Wall Rug/Tapestry by Ewald Kröner for Schloss Hackhausen, Germany - 1970s
By Schloss Hackhausen, Ewald Kröner
Located in Berlin, DE
Ewald Kröner designed woollen wall hanging. An example of the Pop art movement of the early 1970s. It features wool tassel hanging loosely with tied bands.
Wool
Pierre Cardin Eden Fabric Space Age
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Vintage Pierre Cardin curtain fabric. Excellent condition. Probably late 1960s-1970s designed and made. Wide is 2meter. Length is around seven meter which is two patterns are printe...
Cotton
Textile by Vernor Panton
By Verner Panton, Mira-X
Located in South Charleston, WV
Premises renovation sale on all stock. Ends 22 June 2018. A single wood framed textile of a design by Verner Panton for Mira-X of Denmark, circa 1970. Measures 30" x 23". In excel...
Textile Wall Hanging by Verner Panton
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Mira Spectrum kreis design textile wall hanging by Danish designer Verner Panton.
Cotton
Design Lips by Verner Panton
Located in Milan, IT
'Design Lips' is a fabric wall panel designed and produced in 1968 as part of Verner Panton's 'Anatomical Designs Collection', which were photoreali...
Cotton